Coastal Conservancy Public Meeting in Fortuna – September 5
Meeting Notice
Douglas Bosco (Public Member), Chair
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš (Public Member), Vice Chair
Joy Sterling (Public Member)
Jeremiah Hallisey (Public Member)
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources; Bryan Cash and Jenn Eckerle (Designated)
Caryl Hart, Coastal Commission Chair; Madeline Cavalieri (Designated)
Joe Stephenshaw, Director, Department of Finance; Michele Perrault (Designated)
Senate Representatives
Benjamin Allen (District 26)
Josh Becker (District 13)
John Laird (District 17)
Assembly Representatives
Gregg Hart (District 37)
Christopher Ward (District 78)
Tina McKinnor (District 61)
Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer
Amy Roach, General Counsel
Agenda was updated 8/30/24 3:41 PM. An addendum has been added to Item 17.
AGENDA
Hybrid Meeting
DATE: September 05, 2024
TIME: 10:00 A.M
LOCATION: River Lodge Conference Center
1800 Riverwalk Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540
*Live Spanish interpretation is provided during our Board Meetings on the Zoom teleconference.
*Se proporciona interpretación en español en vivo durante nuestras reuniones de la Junta en la teleconferencia de Zoom.
This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid virtual/in-person format. To maximize public safety while maintaining transparency, members of the public can choose to watch the webcast of the meeting or participate in the meeting via Zoom, by telephone, or in person at the location listed above. People attending in person will be required to adhere to the site’s health guidelines, which could include wearing masks, health screening, and social distancing.
Members of the public may watch an online webcast of the meeting or join the meeting by internet with Zoom or by telephone with the following steps:
Webcast (Watch Only): To watch the meeting and not provide verbal comments, please view the webcast at this site: https://cal-span.org. If you do not wish to provide verbal comments, we strongly recommend watching the webcast as this will free up space on the webinar for those who are providing verbal comments. If you intend to make verbal comments, please do not view the webcast, and then switch over to the Zoom webinar or phone to comment, as the webcast will have a time delay and you may miss the opportunity to comment.
Zoom (To Make Comments): In addition to in-person participation, remote participation is available to members of the public via Zoom webinar. To participate via Zoom, you must register for the Zoom Webinar at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dn3mNL39QUG0pI-PDgdj_Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Telephone (To Make Comments): Members of the public can offer verbal comments on agenda items by calling in via telephone. Zoom registration is required. Register for the Zoom Webinar at the link above and you will receive an email with a phone number to dial in by telephone. When the agenda item you want to speak on is being presented, press *9 to “raise your hand” and indicate your interest in making a comment. You will be called upon (using your phone number to identify you) and will be unmuted at the appropriate time.
More information on how to participate and comment verbally on an agenda item or during open public comment can be found here.
1. ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the Conservancy’s June 06, 2024, public meeting.
3. CONSENT ITEMS
A. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse $499,510 to Endangered Habitats Conservancy to prepare plans, 65% designs and permit application materials for the Russian River Floodplain Restoration Project, consisting of the habitat restoration of 358 acres of floodplain near the town of Windsor, Sonoma County.
B. and possible authorization to amend the Conservancy’s previously authorized grant to the Northwest California Resource Conservation and Development Council to change the project from the McKinney Creek Fish Passage Project, which involved removal of a fish passage barrier on McKinney Creek near Hamburg, Siskiyou County, to the Little Grass Valley Creek Fish Passage Project, which will remove a fish passage barrier on Little Grass Valley Creek near Lewiston, Trinity County.
C. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $79,120 to augment the Conservancy grant authorized on June 1, 2023, which provided funding to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to conduct pre-acquisition activities, coordinate with landowners and key stakeholders, acquire a conservation easement over 24 acres of agricultural land, and prepare conceptual designs for floodplain restoration and coastal access along Tembladero Slough, between Castroville and Salinas River State Beach in Monterey County.
D. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,238,120 to Tamien Nation to undertake phase two of the Tamien Nation Cultural Fire Stewardship Program, continuing to build capacity and equip a native fire crew to steward tribal territory, and implement prescribed fire and fuel reduction work at Henry W. Coe State Park in Santa Clara County.
E. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $8,000,000 to Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to construct the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project Reaches 1-3 ecotone in Ponds A12 and A13 to restore tidal marsh and upland transition zone habitat adjacent to a flood risk management levee and public access trails in Alviso, Santa Clara County.
F. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $498,000 to the Noyo Center for Marine Science to construct an approximately 1,500 square feet multi-purpose work facility for large-scale marine mammal exhibition displays, community education, and storage, and for use as a future marine research and blue economy projects workspace, located in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County.
G. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,500,000 for operation of the Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (“BRRIT”) for a second period of five years, of which one million ($1,000,000) replaces the previously anticipated but now rejected grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that was authorized for disbursement on June 6, 2024.
H. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,370,000, comprising $2,870,000 in funds received by the Conservancy from the Wildlife Conservation Board and $500,000 of Conservancy funds, to Save the Redwoods League to augment the Conservancy grant authorized on March 24, 2022 of $794,000, and expansion of the project scope, to construct public access improvements and visitor amenities for the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway and Restoration Project (formerly the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project), at the former Orick Mill A site in Humboldt County.
I. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $20,000 to the County of Humboldt to add Solano County to the existing project of developing critical data layers for wildfire resilience planning concerning north coast counties of California.
J. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $207,600 to Community Initiatives to undertake the Alderpoint Great Redwood Trail Planning Project, Phase 1, consisting of tribal and community engagement, resource studies and surveys, trash removal, vegetation management, and conceptual designs for tribal/local interpretive features along a 4.5-mile segment of the trail and potential trailhead area in unincorporated Humboldt County.
4. EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT
B. Conservancy Meeting Schedule for 2025
C. Recognition of Deputy Executive Officer Mary Small upon her Retirement
NORTH COAST
5. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $8,500,000 to Save the Redwoods League to repay private loans used to acquire the 3,187-acre DeVilbiss Ranch to facilitate transfer of ownership of the 4,566-acre Lost Coast Redwoods property in northern Mendocino County to the United States Bureau of Land Management for the purposes of natural resource and water quality protection, restoration, and enhancement, open space preservation, California Native American tribal cultural resources protection, wildfire resilience and restoration forestry, and public access compatible with cultural and natural resource protection.
6. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $750,000 to the Noyo Harbor District to undertake the Noyo Harbor Marina Redevelopment Planning Project which consists of conducting community engagement and a planning study; and preparing 60% designs, permit applications, and CEQA documents for the redevelopment of Noyo Harbor Marina in Mendocino County.
7. Consideration and potential authorization to disburse up to $835,000 to the City of Crescent City to undertake the Lighthouse Cove Lower Cost Accommodations Project which consists of adding up to three lower cost units which will accommodate up to 20 people and renovating the existing restrooms at the City of Crescent City’s Lighthouse Cove RV Park in Del Norte County.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
8. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,500,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to acquire approximately 1,218 acres of the 3,654-acre Richmond Ranch for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of open space, wildlife corridors, natural resources, viewsheds, and grazing lands; and for public access and California Native American tribal cultural uses, in Santa Clara County.
9. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $700,000 to the East Bay Regional Park District to undertake the Keller Beach Access Improvements Project, consisting of constructing public access improvements and amenities at the Keller Beach portion of Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, Contra Costa County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
10. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $2,213,270, including $555,000 of grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to implement the Lower College of Marin Corte Madera Creek Habitat Restoration Project, which consists of partial removal of a section of concrete channel; restoration of 1.44 acres of tidal wetland, transition zone, and upland habitats; and enhancement of public access, in and along lower Corte Madera Creek in the unincorporated area of Kentfield in Marin County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
CENTRAL COAST
11. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $865,000 to the County of Santa Cruz to prepare technical and feasibility studies, plans, designs, environmental review documents, community and tribal engagement, and permit applications for a new cabin campground and associated amenities at Greyhound Rock County Park in Santa Cruz County. [Lexi Caruthers]
SOUTH COAST
12. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $6,600,000 to the San Diego Unified Port District to undertake the San Diego Harbor Park Project, Phase 1A, consisting of the construction of Harbor Park, a 25-acre park with a beach, boat launch, and many other recreational amenities, to expand and replace Bayside Park on the Chula Vista Bayfront in San Diego County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
13. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $3,457,000 to the Maritime Museum Association of San Diego to replace two mooring dolphins and augment an existing Conservancy grant to prepare design and engineering, environmental compliance documents, and permit applications for the Maritime Museum of San Diego entry building in San Diego County.
14. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $418,784 to 3 non-profit organizations for three community-based wetland and stream restoration projects on approximately 14 acres in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE PROGRAM
15. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $2,075,000 to East Bay Regional Park District to conduct vegetation treatments to reduce fuels across an estimated 130 acres in Tilden Regional Park, Anthony Chabot Regional Park and Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, develop an approximately 34-acre shaded fuel break along the southern border of Lake Chabot Regional Park, and purchase vegetation management equipment; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
16. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $4,000,000 to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy to: (1) implement forest health and wildfire resiliency activities in Tomales Bay State Park, a priority project in the Marin Regional Forest Health Strategy; (2) implement wildfire resilience activities in Marin City; and (3) engage the FIRE Foundry workforce development program in either or both project components; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
STATEWIDE
17. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $994,197 to 13 nonprofit organizations and 1 Tribe for 14 projects that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the California coast. Participants are drawn from throughout the State and will visit coastal locations from Del Norte County south to San Diego County.
- Addendum: Explore the Coast Program
Please note: If a closed session is needed, the Conservancy will reconvene in person and on the webcast and zoom webinar to make any reports required by Section 11125.2 of the Government Code.
18. CONSERVANCY MEMBER COMMENTS
19. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Addendum: Public Comments
Addendum: Public Comments
20. CLOSED SESSION
A. To confer regarding Pappas, et al. v. State Coastal Conservancy, et al., Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Case No. 1417388. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).
B. To confer regarding Ballona Wetlands Land Trust v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, et al. (Environmental Science Associates, Real Party in Interest), Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 22STCP03307. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).
C. To confer regarding City of Trinidad v. Tsurai Ancestral Society, et al., Humboldt County Superior Court Case No. DR180684. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).
21. ADJOURNMENT
CONSERVANCY TOUR INFORMATION:
On Wednesday, September 4, the Conservancy will tour the site listed below, as close as possible to the identified time, which might be affected by traffic. Members of the public are welcome to join the tour but must provide their own transportation. The tour will conclude at 4:30 PM.
2:30 PM – Meet at the ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway and Restoration Project
545 Bald Hills Road, Orick, CA
Latitude: 41.305949 | Longitude: -124.042691
Note: Agenda items may be taken out of sequence at the discretion of the Conservancy. At any time during the meeting, but prior to the adjournment of the open session of the meeting, the Conservancy may recess or adjourn to closed session to consider personnel matters, prices and terms of real estate transactions, and possible and pending litigation. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to attorney-client privilege and statutory authorization under Government Code Sections 11126(a), (c) (7), and (e).
Any person who has a disability and requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this public meeting should contact Taylor Samuelson no later than five days prior to meeting.
Questions about the meeting or agenda can be directed to Taylor Samuelson at
(510) 286-4182 or Taylor.Samuelson@scc.ca.gov or at the Conservancy:
1515 Clay Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612